Hill, Heflin, Pisarcik Among Dolphins` Last Cuts

``What do you want me to do, cry?`` he said. ``It`s unfortunate it turned out this way. It`s the first time in my life I`ve ever been rejected. But Coach (Don) Shula did what he had to do.``

And what Shula had to do Monday was release five players to reach the regular-season roster limit of 45. There were no major surprises, no big names sent packing.

But that may change in the next few weeks when many more decisions must be made.

Released Monday were Hill, tight end John Chesley, wide receiver Vince Heflin and center Tom Taylor. Quarterback Joe Pisarcik, coming off a miserable performance against Atlanta, was waived injured.

Hill had been with the Dolphins for four seasons, Heflin for three. Both probably would have made the team if the 49-man roster was still in effect. Shula said they were his two toughest decisions.

Chesley`s release was a minor surprise for two reasons: He was the team`s leading receiver in the exhibition season, catching eight passes for 86 yards, and his departure leaves the Dolphins with only two tight ends -- Bruce Hardy and Joe Rose.

But that situation will change when Dan Johnson (emergency appendectomy) returns in about a month.

Upon hearing the news, Chesley loaded his car and headed home to Washington, D.C. He indicated last week if he didn`t make the Dolphins, he would retire.

``You can only chase a dream for so long,`` he said at the time.

With Pisarcik gone, the Dolphins are down to one quarterback -- Don Strock -- on the active roster. No need for concern. Shula plans to activate Dan Marino later in the week and will make room for him by placing rookie linebacker Alex Moyer (thigh bruise) on injured reserve.

In all likelihood, he also will place running back Joe Carter (sprained knee) on injured reserve, leaving another roster opening. He hasn`t decided what he`ll do with that opening. He could activate recently signed quarterback/wide receiver Jim Jensen.

More likely, he will activate Johnson, whose two-week roster exemption expires Sept. 9, and immediately place him on injured reserve. Then he could use Johnson`s spot to return Jensen to the roster or he could pick up a player off the waiver wire.

``If we activate Johnson and then put him on injured reserve this week, he can come back after the fourth game,`` Shula said. ``If we wait and do it next week, it won`t be until after the fifth game.``

Because Moyer and Carter were counted on the final roster, they can be placed on injured reserve and recalled in four weeks without having to clear waivers. It is unclear whose spots they would take.

The decisions won`t stop there. If linebacker Bob Brudzinski and safety Glenn Blackwood agree to terms, two more players must be cut. Then in late October, nose tackle Bob Baumhower and offensive tackle Eric Laakso will be eligible to come off the ``physically unable to perform`` list.

Sound confusing? It is. But the bottom line is that just because a player made Monday`s 45-man roster doesn`t assure him of job security. There is a lot of juggling ahead.

``School`s not out yet,`` Shula said. ``We`ve got many things to consider. The decisions are just beginning.``

But until things change, nine rookies -- seven of them draft choices -- are still around, an usually high number for a team coming off a Super Bowl season.

Actually, an eighth draft choice also earned a spot. Defensive end Mack Moore, a sixth-round pick in 1981, spent the past three seasons in the Canadian Football League. Wide receiver Frank Lockett was the only free agent to make the team.

Said Dellenbach, ``It was real tough sleeping last night. Every time a coach passed by me this morning, I held my breath.``

As of Monday, the roster consisted of one quarterback, eight offensive linemen, two tight ends, five wide receivers, five running backs, six defensive linemen, eight linebackers, eight defensive backs and two kickers.

``Wide receiver gave us the most problems,`` Shula said. ``We hated to let Heflin go.``

It came down to a decision between Heflin and Lockett.

``Lockett is our best special teams player,`` Shula said. ``He`ll probably return punts for us Sunday (against Houston) and he`ll be on all the other teams. He showed good awareness as a wide receiver and an ability to get open deep. If I find a guy like that, I`m going to find a spot on the roster for him.

``It was tough cutting Vince. He had an excellent camp.``

Reached at his home Monday, Heflin was frustrated. He played well enough to make a team, but not this team.

``On the way back from Atlanta last week, Don Strock told me I was doing a good job,`` Heflin said. ``He told me I didn`t have anything to worry about. But deep inside I knew different. You get caught up in the numbers game and strange things can happen.

``I was looking at my horoscope and it said new opportunities are supposed to open up. I`m still waiting for it to say I`m going to fall into a whole pot of money. It`s a shame this had to happen. I honestly believe I can play in this league.``